Prologus
The Weight of the Principate
The author reflects on the immense complexity and importance of the office of the prince, which requires careful and patient contemplation.
Great things aren't usually examined to perfection in a hurry, nor is it easy to traverse the length and breadth of provinces in a single moment. So, while a wise person may sometimes present a great matter concisely, it's never perfectly explained within the narrow confines of a brief speech. But what is greater in human affairs than the principate, whose office in some way circles, fills, and penetrates all things, and carries the weight of the entire commonwealth as if by the strength of its own virtue? Its contemplation, therefore, requires time and demands delay, both because of its own magnitude and because of the beauty that it's a joy for everyone to behold in the head of the commonwealth.
Learning from the Ancients
The author introduces Plutarch as a guide for understanding governance, while advocating for a discerning approach to pagan wisdom.
Let's therefore dwell with modest brevity on examining its body, and let's hear what Plutarch thinks about this. Once the superstition of the pagans is set aside, he is faithful in his opinions, eloquent in his words, and such a great arbiter in the sanctuary of morals that you can easily recognize him as the teacher of Trajan. If, however, anything in him disagrees with the faith or with morals, let it be attributed to the times rather than to the man. For if it was permissible for Virgil to seek the gold of wisdom in the mud of Ennius, what envy is there in sharing with our own people those things written by pagans that serve our education? So, leaving these things aside, let's move on to the rest.
Read the original Latin
NoN solent ad unguem grandia sine mora lustrari, nec faeile est prouinciaram longitudinem et latitudinem in momento transcurrere. Sic res magna succincte quidem a sapiente interdum proponitur, sed numquam perfecte sub angustia sermonis nimia explanatur. Quid autem in humanis rebus maius est principatu, cuius ofRcium quodammodo omnia circuit implet et penetrat et quasi robore uirtutis suae totius rei publicae molem portat? Eius itaque contemplatio tractum habet et moram exigit tum prae magnitudine sui tum prae uenustate quam in capite rei publicae iocundum est omnibus contemplari. Modesta ergo breuitate in inspiciendo corpore eius immoremur, et quid super " hoc Plutarcus censeat audiatur. Nam deducta superstitione gentilium fidelis est in sententiis, in uerbis luculentus et in sacrario morum tantus arbiter ut facile praeceptorem Traiani possis agnoscere. Si quid autem apud eum a fide dissentit aut moribus, tempori potius quam uiro adscribatur. Si enim Virgilio licuit aurum sapientiae in luto Ennii quaerere, quae inuidia est ea, quae ad eruditionem nostram a gentilibus scripta sunt, nostris communicare?
His ergo omissis ad reliqua procedamus.
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study